June 2009 -  Kingsport Tennessee Times News

Kingsport, Tennessee - Brittany Davis plans to use her life experiences to offer hope and encouragement to local children. As Miss Kingsport 2010, Davis will take her platform — “Believe to Achieve: Inspiring Children to Believe in Themselves to Reach Their Dreams” — into local elementary schools.   Davis said she wants to use education as a way to inspire children. “I would read stories such as ‘The Little Engine That Could’ and ‘The Can Do Duck: A Story About Believing in Yourself,’” she said. She also plans to emphasize the importance of having dreams and setting goals. Her biggest aspiration is to give an award at the end of each school year to a child in each city school who has shown educational improvements due to self-belief.

Celebrities, sports, designer and name brand clothes, expensive sneakers and video games are cool to most children.   Reading is apparently not cool. South Carolina having the third highest adult illiteracy rate in the country seems to bear witness.  But, what if celebrities said reading is cool and fun? What if limousine rides were used as an incentive? Would reading then become cool?   The answer is yes, the innovative non-profit Limousines for Learning is finding out through their success over five years.  During the past year, 15,600 third- and fourth- graders representing 69 elementary schools in seven counties participated in the Limos for Learning motivational program, including five elementary schools in Georgetown County: Andrews, McDonald's, Sampit, Browns Ferry and Pleasant Hill.

The program provides motivational posters, books and videos. The "Can Do Duck" is a book about the "power of belief in self," said Betsy Ross, founder and president, "and a can do attitude." Olympian Devon Harris's book, "Yes I Can," is the inspirational story of the Jamaican bobsled team. Videos feature Harris, Hootie and the Blowfish, Access Hollywood's Nancy O'Dell, pro football player Brentson Buckner and model Mariana Verkerk all extolling the virtues of reading.

October 18,2006 -  Southwest Orlando Bulletin -

Dr. Phillips Elementary’s theme for the year is “Are You Up for the Challenge? The Can-Do Duck says ‘Yes!’” Based on The Can Do Duck book by Ducktor Morty, M.D., and illustrated by his children, Arielle and Sarah, DPES students are ready to meet any challenge with a “can-do” attitude.

August 9, 2006 - South Jersey Courier Post -

The article mentioned Can Do and The Storm being distributed to 15,000 Mississippi children.

July 5, 2006 - Brookhaven Daily Leader, Mississippi -

Children have not been excluded from the programs provided by Project Recovery. A book titled "Can Do and the Storm: A Story About New Beginnings" is used in library reading programs, schools, churches and day cares to teach children about the difficulties that may come with a natural disaster.

"It's about two little ducks and animals who had to move from their pond because a hurricane came through. It talks about how they helped each other and talks about some of their fears. It's a great story about supporting one another," said Kaylee Wade, Project Recovery team leader.

June 29, 2006  -  Can Do and the Storm was written up in the Washington Township News Report in New Jersey

NEWS FLASH...

Can Do and The Storm:

A Story About New Beginnings

    was distributed free to 20,000 children and families in Mississippi!  This project was sponsored by Project Recovery, a program which provides free crisis counseling services, which is a division of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health. They are funded through a grant from FEMA and facilitated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  They used the books as part of their hurricane season preparedness program and to help children cope with the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

      "The books were great! Everyone was thrilled with the results. Several of our Outreach Workers adapted the story into a small puppet show which the kids loved! Summer library programs were the target for the puppet show. After the show, they distributed the books. We distributed 20,000 all over the state of Mississippi, focusing on the Gulf Coast," said Wendy Bailey. 

     Take a look at the important work they do on their web site. 

Heard on KYW- RADIO

Philadelphia, January 10, 2006

A Book For Small Children Affected by Disaster

by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman

Much has been reported about displaced students whose lives have been disrupted as a result of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In December, the US Senate voted overwhelmingly on $1.6 billion for hurricane-related aid for education in an attempt to bring normalcy into the lives of kids. While older kids express their concerns and fears more readily, it’s hard to gauge the effects of such disasters on very young children. But Dr. Morton Sosland, a psychiatrist from Vorhees, NJ, has written several short books for early readers using "The Can-Do Duck" to develop positive attitudes. "Can Do And The Storm" should bring comfort and hope to kids. The text, which is rhymed, makes serious topics fun to read, as Can Do attacks the problems of being homeless, finding shelter, getting food and water, and losing track of a parent. Illustrated by Dr. Sosland’s daughters, the book will certainly appeal to young children. And its subtitle, "The New Beginning," sets the right tone for reassurance. Congress helps in one sense and The Can-Do Duck can help in another. For more information, visit TheCanDoDuck.com

The Can Do Duck Books were mentioned in an article in The Sun News of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on January 12, 2006. The article was about the innovative literacy program Limos for Learning.  Visit www.limosforlearning.com to find out more about this wonderful program that promotes the Can Do spirit in children learning to read.

Can Do and the Storm was written up in the National Resource Center for Family Practice and Permanency Planning Newsletter in March 2006.

Can Do and the Storm was written up in the Juvenile Judges Newsletter in March 2006.